सुप्त्वा वर्षसहस्रं स जगद्भूयो ऽसृजद्धरिः / अथ प्राकृतिकं वक्ष्ये प्रलयं शृणु शौनक
suptvā varṣasahasraṃ sa jagadbhūyo 'sṛjaddhariḥ / atha prākṛtikaṃ vakṣye pralayaṃ śṛṇu śaunaka
Setelah tidur selama seribu tahun, Hari itu mencipta dunia kembali. Kini akan kujelaskan pralaya Prākṛtika (pembubaran primordial berasaskan prakṛti)—dengarlah, wahai Śaunaka.
Sūta (narrator) addressing Śaunaka, describing Hari (Viṣṇu) and introducing Prākṛtika-pralaya
Concept: Cyclic creation: Hari withdraws and reprojects the world after yogic sleep; prākṛtika pralaya is a principled dissolution rooted in Prakṛti.
Vedantic Theme: Sṛṣṭi-laya as periodic manifestation of māyā/prakṛti under Īśvara; time-cycles (kalpa) as relative within the absolute.
Application: Study impermanence without despair: treat life phases as cycles; use śravaṇa-manana (listening/reflection) to reduce fear of endings and strengthen spiritual priorities.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: cosmic state-transition
Related Themes: Immediate continuation: 1.224.7–1.224.9 elaborating withdrawal, Brahmā-laya, and cosmic waters
This verse introduces Prākṛtika-pralaya as a key cosmological teaching—dissolution rooted in Prakṛti—framing the universe as cyclical: creation follows divine rest and dissolution precedes renewal.
Indirectly, it sets the larger metaphysical backdrop: individual death and afterlife teachings occur within recurring cosmic cycles governed by Viṣṇu, where worlds arise and dissolve while the deeper reality persists.
Reflect on impermanence: worldly conditions change and end, so prioritize dharma, disciplined living, and spiritual practice over attachment to transient status or possessions.